When you experience dental pain that comes on suddenly or have had an accident, it is best to know where to go and what to expect. Whether it is a severe toothache, a broken tooth, or an injury, you can alleviate pain and avoid complications by visiting a dental office in Dacula. When you have a convenient location of a reputable dental office near you, you can ensure your urgent dental needs will be addressed professionally, and as quickly as possible.
In this article we will be explaining, what happens during an emergency dental visit, and how to prepare for, and why seeing professional care in a timely manner is important for your oral health.
Common Reasons for Emergency Dental Visits
Dental emergencies can happen without much warning and knowing what constitutes an emergency dentist near you, who can help you make timely decisions. Some common reasons to see an emergency dentist close to you are:
- Severe or persistent tooth pain
- Broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth
- Lost fillings, crowns, or other restorations
- Abscesses/infections of the gums
- Injuries to the mouth or jaw
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop after an dental procedure or due to trauma
If you are ever in doubt if the situation is an emergency, it is always best to call your dentist immediately and inquire.
What Happens During an Emergency Dental Visit
For numerous patients, believing that they will be enduring an emergency dental visit can be uncomfortable, especially when there is discomfort involved. Here is a general step-by-step overview of what happens during an emergency dental visit:
- Evaluation and Triage
The dental team will assess your condition and triage your most immediate pain needs. This means they need to understand your dental symptoms, take x-rays or diagnostics if it is appropriate, and investigate the cause of your discomfort. - Management and Stabilization of Pain
Typically, initially pain control management is the first treatment priority. Depending on the condition, the dentist may offer you a local prescription, provide anesthetic medicine, or stabilize the tooth or gum with initial procedures. - Management and Treatment of the Problem
Once the immediate pain component is managed, your dentist will consider what to do next. This may include repairing a tooth, managing an abscess, replacing a lost crown, or moving forward with whatever problem you were experiencing.In addition, further treatment may mean an immediate referral to an emergency dental service. In other cases of care at home, it is possible that follow up visits may require another appointment for further procedures of management such as filling work, root canal removal or extractions, - Aftercare Instructions
Before you leave, you will be given aftercare instructions for home follow-up care. These instructions may include oral management of pain, dental hygiene (to include diet and oral hygiene) care issues, and further recommendations for aftercare with future visits.
How to Prepare for a Dental Emergency
Emergencies typically come on spontaneously, but if you know how to prepare for a dental emergency, the experience can be less traumatic:
- Have your dentist’s contact: Use your smartphone to store the contact number of a dental office near you that you trust.
- Carry a small dental first aid kit: You may want to have gauze, a small container, and pain medications to help with discomfort until you are at the dentist.
- Handle knocked-out teeth carefully. Put the tooth in milk or a container to keep it moist, which is helpful on the way to the dentist’s office, or keep it in your mouth, if you are in a position to do so on the way to the office.
- Stay calm. Keeping calm can help you think better and get to where you need to be for treatment to occur faster.
Why Immediate Dental Care Matters
Taking a wait-and-see approach during an emergency can often do more harm than good. For instance, a minor crack can become a larger, possibly more serious, infection; additionally, the longer you wait, the less likely it is that a knocked out tooth will be saved – it is definitely best to get to a dentist within the first hour. Receiving care sooner also can reduce the length of time you’re in discomfort and promote good oral health for your teeth and gums in the future.
Conclusion
Dental emergencies can strike at any moment; however, research and knowing what to expect can make a difference. If you are looking for a quality dentist in Dacula, Lanier Valley Dentistry is your answer for any dental emergency – with experience and compassion, expedient dental care, and advice to improve your compliance and comfort with your dental experience. Don’t wait until the pain is unbearable, call Lanier Valley Dentistry today to schedule your urgent visit for relief!